Robin Levin | The Death of Carthage

Social and Economic Factors Leading to the End of the Roman Republic

April 17, 2023 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

The severe erosion of the small landholding class during the second century B,C. These small farmers were the bulwark of the Roman Republic. This led to a movement, led by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus to redistribute public lands (ager publica) to the many landless who had been kicked off their land by wealthy people buying up […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome Tagged With: Cleopatra, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Gaius Marius, Gaius Octavius, Gneius Pompey Magnus, Julius Caesar, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Lucius Sergius Catalina, Marc Antony, Marcus Junius Brutus, Marcus Tullius Cicero, Tiberius Gracchus

Who Were the Brothers Gracchi, Why Were They Popular and How did They Die?

February 18, 2023 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

The Gracchi brothers, Tiberius and Gaius were the two sons of Cornelia who was the daughter of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, and her husband Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Cornelia gave birth to twelve children, but only three of them survived to adulthood, Tiberius, Gaius and a daughter, Sempronia. The elder by about ten years, Tiberius joined […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome Tagged With: Ager Publica, Cornelia the Mother of the Gracchi, Gaius Gracchus, Numantium, Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum, Sempronia the Sister of the Gracchi, Tiberius Gracchus

Why Did The Romans Consider Quintus Fabius Maximus’ Strategy Cowardly?

February 17, 2023 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Quintus Fabius Maximus thought outside the box. The normal Roman response was to directly confront the enemy on the battlefield, and most Romans could not understand or tolerate Fabius’ thinking. Livy relates how Fabius attempted to dissuade the Consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus from confronting Hannibal at Cannae. Fabius: “I think you know why I have […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Cannae, Gaius Flaminius, Hannibal, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, Marcus Terentius Varro, Quintus Fabius Maximus Cuncator

The Importance of Conquering New Carthage

February 7, 2023 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

The Carthaginians controlled southern Spain before the Second Punic war and had alliances with some of the tribes of northern Spain. They had highly productive gold and silver mines in southern Spain which helped finance the war. The Second Punic War began as a result of Hannibal’s destruction of Saguntum, a Roman ally, and Spain […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battles of the Upper Baeits, Gneius Cornelius Scipio Calvus, Hannibal, New Carthage, publius cornelius scipio africanus, Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder

Hasdrubal Barca’s Role in the Second Punic War

December 30, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Hannibal left his brother Hasdrubal in Spain to deal with the Romans whom he suspected were planning to invade. Southern Spain was the site of vast rich gold and silver mines that the Carthaginians used to finance the war, and they needed to be protected. Upon learning that Hannibal and his army were heading toward […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Baecula, Battle of Dertosa, Battle of the Metaurus River, Battles of the Upper Baetis, Gneius Scipio, Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Mago Barca, Publius Cornelius Scipio the Elder, Scipio Africanus

A Brief History of the Punic Wars

December 4, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

I wrote a historical novel about the Second and Third Punic Wars. Someone asked me what the book was about, and I said, “The Punic Wars.” He gave me a blank look and I said, “The wars between Rome and Carthage, Scipio versus Hannibal.” His eyes lit up and he said “Hannibal! I’ve heard of […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Cato the Elder, Gneius Scipio, Hamilcar Barca, Hannibal Barca, Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Hasdrubal the Fair, Mago Barca, Publius Scipio the Elder, Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator, Scipio Africanus, Scipio Minor

Personal Encounters Between Hannibal and Scipio Africanus

November 18, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Hannibal and Scipio Africanus were rival generals during the Second Punic War. Hannibal was the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps to attack Rome, and Scipio was the Roman general who ended the sixteen-year-long war by defeating Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in North Africa. They are believed to have met in person only […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Antiochus III, Battle of Zama, Hannibal, Marcus Atilius Regulus, Scipio Africanus, Second Punic War

Was Bribing Hannibal’s Allies a Tactic Scipio Africanus Used to Win the War?

October 23, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

In terms of the Iberian tribes, it probably was. Livy mentioned that in conquering New Carthage, Scipio acquired all of Carthage’s hostages, which he promptly returned to their respective tribes, and he also acquired a lot of gold and silver. He sent most of it to Rome for their treasury, and also paid bounties to […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Battle of Baecula, Celtiberians, Gneius Cornelius Scipio Calvus, Hasdrubal Barca, Hasdrubal Son of Gisco, Mago Barca, Masinissa, New Carthage, publius cornelius scipio africanus, Syphax

Was There Anything Carthage Could Have Done to Prevent its Destruction by Rome in the Third Punic War?

October 13, 2022 By Robin Levin Leave a Comment

Unfortunately for Carthage, there was no way to stop Rome from conquering and destroying Carthage. A year before the Romans declared war on Carthage, the Carthaginians had lost about 50,000 soldiers in a war with its Numidian neighbor Masinissa, so they were in a much-weakened position. The Romans were urged on by Marcus Porcius Cato, […]

Filed Under: Ancient Rome, Carthage Tagged With: Adrian Goldsworthy, Banno, Marcus Porcius Cato the Elder, Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, Third Punic War

Who Was the Better General, Hannibal or Scipio?

October 13, 2022 By Robin Levin 3 Comments

In my estimation Hannibal’s rival Roman General, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus was the better general. Hannibal was unsurpassed as a battlefield tactician, but in terms of strategy and logistics, Scipio was superior to him while being a superb battlefield tactician in his own right. Hannibal’s overall strategy for winning the Second Punic War was flawed. […]